74.1% of Indians unable to afford a healthy diet: FAO Report

Context: Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a report titled “Asia and the Pacific – Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2023: Statistics and Trend”.

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• Unaffordability: According to the report, 74.1% of Indians could not afford a balanced diet in 2021. This percentage was 76.2% in 2020.
• Regional Comparison: 82.2% of people in Pakistan and 66.1% of people in Bangladesh reported having trouble obtaining healthy food.
• Mismatch between the Food prices and Income: The report cautioned that if the rising food prices are not accompanied by increased income, more individuals will find it impossible to afford a nutritious diet.

Key Findings of the FAO Report

• Impact of the “5Fs” Crisis: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the region was impacted by the “5Fs” crisis – Food, Feed, Fuel, Fertilizers, and Finance. The protracted effects of these crises are still evident.
• Stunting: 31.7% of the nation’s under-five children experienced stunted growth( low height-for-age). 

• • Reasons for Stunting: Stunted growth and development can be caused by inadequate feeding practices for infants and young kids, poor maternal health and nutrition, and recurrent infections 
• Wasting: India has the highest rate of wasting (low weight for height) in the area, with 18.7% of children under five years old dealing with this severe health issue.Another health risk – 2.8% of children under five were overweight.
• Anaemia: The highest prevalence rate in the region for anaemia in 2019 was 53% among women in the country between the ages of 15 and 49. Anaemia “impairs health and well-being in women and increases the risk for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.”
• Obesity: 1.6% of adult citizens in the nation are obese. 
• Breastfeeding: India has improved the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0–5 months old; at 63.7%, it is higher than the global rate of 47.7%. 
• Low- Birth Weight: With a prevalence of low birth weight of 27.4%, India leads the region, followed by Bangladesh and Nepal.
• Cost of a Healthy Diet: The cost of a healthy diet rose on average by 5.3% in purchasing power parity (PPP). An estimated 232.8 million people in the region could not afford a healthy diet.

Must Read: World Food India 2023

What is a Healthy Diet?

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a healthy diet is one that meets the nutritional needs of individuals at different stages of life and promotes overall health. It must be:

• Diverse and Balanced: A healthy diet should include a variety of foods. This diversity ensures an adequate intake of essential nutrients.
  • It typically includes fruits, vegetables, legumes (like lentils and beans), nuts, whole grains (such as unprocessed maize, millet, oats, wheat, brown rice), and animal-sourced foods (like meat, fish, eggs, and milk).

For Further Information: GHI 2023

Source: The Hindu